Coreopsis plant named ‘Sunset Strip’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Coreopsis verticillata  named ‘Sunset Strip’ characterized its large inflorescences that are golden yellow in color with dark orange centers with the dark orange coloration of the ray florets spreading along the veins towards the end of the petals that is especially distinct in fall, its height of 45 to 50 cm and an average spread of 61 cm, its continuous bloom from June until frost, its vigorous growth habit with good growth under greenhouse conditions in winter, and its cold hardiness to at least U.S.D.A. Zone 5.

Botanical classification: Coreopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Sunset Strip’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant, botanically known as Coreopsis verticillata ‘Sunset Strip’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘Sunset Strip’. The new cultivar of Coreopsis is an herbaceous perennial grown for landscape and container use.

The new invention arose as a naturally occurring seedling in the Inventor's garden in Lucinda, Pa. in summer of 2007. The parent plants of ‘Sunset Strip’ are unknown.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished under the direction of the Inventor in Alpharetta, Ga. in November of 2009. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Sunset Strip’ as unique from all Coreopsis cultivars and species known to the Inventor.

-   -   1. ‘Sunset Strip’ exhibits composite inflorescences with ray         florets that are golden yellow in color with dark orange centers         and dark orange coloration spreads along the veins and towards         the end of the petals. The spreading of dark orange coloration         towards the petal tips is most distinct in fall.     -   2. ‘Sunset Strip’ exhibits inflorescences that are large in size         in comparison to what is typical for other cultivars of         Coreopsis verticillata.     -   3. ‘Sunset Strip’ has proven to be hardy at least in U.S.D.A.         Zone 5.     -   4. ‘Sunset Strip’ blooms continuously from June until frost in         Pennsylvania.     -   5. ‘Sunset Strip’ exhibits a height of 45 to 50 cm (18 to 20         inches) and an average spread of 61 cm (24 inches).     -   6. ‘Sunset Strip’ exhibits a vigorous growth habit and grows         well under greenhouse conditions in winter.         ‘Sunset Strip’ can be most closely compared to Coreopsis ‘Sienna         Sunset’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,470) and Coreopsis ‘Route 66’         (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,609). ‘Sienna Sunset’ is similar to         ‘Sunset Strip’ in having threadlike foliage and in having         inflorescences that are orange in color. ‘Sienna Sunset’ differs         from ‘Sunset Strip’ in having ray florets that range from orange         to peach in color, lack a center eye (solid in color), in being         wider in plant spread and in being slow growing in the         greenhouse in winter. ‘Route 66’ is similar to ‘Sunset Strip’ in         inflorescence size, in having ray florets with a dark colored         eye that spreads toward the petal tips, and in growing well         under greenhouse conditions in winter. ‘Route 66’ differs from         ‘Sunset Strip’ in having ray florets that are yellow in color         with a burgundy eye that spreads more extensively to the petal         tips in fall, and in having a taller plant height.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Coreopsis as grown in Alpharetta, Ga.

The photograph in FIG. 1 was taken of plants 3-months in age from a 72-inch plug as grown in one-gallon containers in an open greenhouse and provides a view of the inflorescence color in fall.

The photograph in FIG. 2 was taken of a one-year old plant of ‘Sunset Strip’ as grown outdoors in a two-gallon container and provides a view of the inflorescence color in summer. The Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Coreopsis.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar as observed for three years in Pennsylvania and Georgia with the detailed data collected from plants grown outdoors for three months from a 72-cell plug in Alpharetta, Ga. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms from June until Frost in             Pennsylvania.         -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous annual, densely clump-forming with             numerous basal branching to produce a bushy habit.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches a height of 45 to 50 cm (18 to 20             inches) and an average spread of 61 cm (24 inches).         -   Diseases resistance.—No particular resistance or             susceptibility has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine and well-branched.

-   Growth and propagation:     -   -   Propagation.—Terminal stem cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous and grows well under greenhouse             conditions in winter.

-   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Round, solid.         -   Stem color.—146A to 146B.         -   Stem size.—An average of 22 cm in length and 2 mm in width.         -   Stem surface.—Glabrous, satin finish, slightly ridges.         -   Branching habit.—An average of 30 basal branches with             laterals produced with pinching.

-   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf division.—Simple, deeply incised, 5-lobed.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf size.—Up to 8 cm in length and 7 cm in width, lobes an             average of 3 cm in length and 2 mm in width.         -   Leaf shape.—Fan shaped overall, lobes narrowly linear.         -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, not prominent, matches leaf color on             both surfaces.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf internode length.—Average of 3 cm.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 8 per main stem.         -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous.         -   Leaf color.—New growth 144A, mature leaves 137B.         -   Leaf fragrance.—Faint and slightly sweet when crushed.

-   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Composite with ray florets surrounding             disk florets in the center forming a radiant head,             inflorescences are borne in groups of 2 to 3 at upper nodes             and in groups of 3 at terminal.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About one week until             senescence of ray flowers, bracts and disk flowers are             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—An average of 8 per stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 2 cm in depth and up to 4             cm in diameter with disk portion an average of 7 mm in             diameter.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Average of 9 mm in depth and 6 mm in             diameter, shape is ovoid, color is 144B suffused with 199C             with apex 7A.         -   Peduncle.—Average of 3.5 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter,             137B in color, glabrous surface.

-   Involucral bracts:     -   -   Bract number.—Two rows of 6 typically.         -   Bract arrangement.—Outer bracts are un-fused spreading and             held at 45° from perpendicular, inner bracts overlap and             surround receptacle with a campanulate form and held close             to ray florets with apical portion spreading outward.         -   Bract size.—Outer bracts about 8 mm in length and 1 mm in             width, inner bracts about 8 mm in length and 4 mm in width             with free portion an average of 4 mm in length and 25 mm in             width.         -   Bract color.—Outer bracts 137A with thin margin of 145A             (both surfaces), inner bracts 137A and blending to N144A at             apex (both surfaces).         -   Bract texture.—Outer bracts glabrous and satiny on both             surfaces, inner bracts glabrous and waxy on both surfaces.         -   Bract apex.—Acute (inner and outer).         -   Bract base.—Truncate (inner and outer).         -   Bract shape.—Outer bracts linear, inner bracts broadly             ovate.

-   Ray florets (sterile):     -   -   Number.—8.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to slightly obovate, most typically with 1             ligulate petal (petaloid pistil) approximately 6 mm in             length and 2 mm in width.         -   Size.—Average of 2 cm in length and 9 mm in width.         -   Apex.—Slightly emarginated to slightly mucronate.         -   Base.—Broadly cuneate.         -   Margins.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Held nearly horizontal to slightly upward, slightly             wavy with apex slightly curled downward.         -   Surface.—Glabrous and ridged on both surfaces.         -   Color.—Upper surface opening and fully open; 17A and heavily             suffused with 46A (eye zone) at base with vertical stripes             spreading outward towards petal tip, the degree of spreading             of 46A coloration is greater in fall, lower surface opening             and fully open; 117C with fine vertical stripes of 177A.

-   Disk flowers (male and female):     -   -   Number.—Numerous, about 150.         -   Shape.—Tubular, corolla is fused, flared at apex.         -   Size.—About 6 mm in length and 2 mm in width.         -   Color.—In masse; 183C with stigmas 12A, corolla; 11C and             translucent with apex 183A.         -   Receptacle.—About 4 mm in diameter and 2 mm in depth, 147A             in color.

-   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Presence.—Disk flowers are perfect, ray flowers are sterile             (often with petaloid pistil).         -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, 2.5 mm in length, style is very fine             and about 160A in color and translucent, bifid pilose stigma             is 12A in color with branches about 0.7 mm in length and             recurved, ovary is 15 mm in length, 0.75 mm in width,             inferior, and 11C in color.         -   Androcoecium.—5 stamens, fused into tube surrounding style,             1.5 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width, about 200A in color,             no pollen was observed.         -   Fruit.—No fruit development has been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant named ‘Sunset Strip’ as herein illustrated and described. 